The river channels flowing in the alluvial plain have tendency of wider channel width than the channel depth. As the discharge from the upstream increases, the channel width becomes wider such as several kilometer or more, however, the cross sectional average depth of the channel seems to have limitation such as 10m or so as my impression. At least I do not think there is a alluvial river section whose cross sectional average depth is 100m as the fact in the world.
There are a lot of research called "hydraulic geometry" and "regime theory". Comparatively saying, they are empirical. Does somebody know the research paper which discuss theoretically on why the river channel depth (cross sectional average depth) does not reach 100m while the channel width can become more kilo meters wider as discharge increase, considering the material of river bank and river bed ?
Thank you.
One of the simplest questions in riverine science remains unanswered: “What determines the width of rivers?” While myriad environmental and geological factors have been proposed to control alluvial river size, no accepted theory exists to explain this fundamental characteristic of river systems. Research workers combined analysis of a global dataset with a field study to support a simple hypothesis: River geometry adjusts to the threshold fluid entrainment stress of the most resistant material lining the channel. In addition, we demonstrate how changes in bank strength dictate planform morphology by exerting strong control on channel width. Our findings greatly extend the applicability of threshold channel theory, which was originally developed to explain straight gravel-bedded rivers with uniform grain size and stable banks. The parsimonious threshold-limiting channel model describes the average hydraulic state of natural rivers across a wide range of conditions and may find use in river management, stratigraphy, and planetary science.
Please, refer to the attached interesting report.
Regards
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